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Show State School Posts Training Progress at A.F. By Ann Shields Tribune Correspondent AMERICAN FORK - The year 1972 has been one of progress and achievement at the Utah State Training School with new projects implemented, implement-ed, existing programs expanded expand-ed and the lives of the mentally mental-ly retarded enriched. How Is progress measured at the school? Perhaps through the first steps of a child who is learning to walk after having spent years in a crib; or in the quiet pride of a young man being trained as a carpenter's helper as he completes com-pletes the sanding and refin-ishing refin-ishing of a fine piece of furniture. furn-iture. It may be in seeing the pleasure of a child who enjoys participation in a music class, or the concentration of a boy who Is learning to type, or in the smile radiating from a wheelchair resident who loves the daily ride up the ramp to the school building. Cites Philosophy The philosophy of Superintendent Superin-tendent Paul S. Sagers and his staff is to help each of the 900 residents of the school to reach his or her potentials some way. For some, that means learning to cook or sew' in a home economics class. For others, it is learning to walk "alone in the sensory motor programs or to make a craft item at one of the activity activi-ty therapy centers. Mr. Sagers said "our objective objec-tive is to make the lives of the retarded as near normal as possible, to help them to become be-come productive Citizens of .the community or to find a comfortable, challenging life within our sheltered environment." environ-ment." A full gamut of professional, education and rehabilitation services is available for all the retarded. Staff members are guided by the basic ideals that every child can learn; every child has the right to reach his full potential; every child has the right to be treated with dignity and as an individual of human worth; every child has .the right to live in an atmosphere atmo-sphere of happiness; and "we should continually strive to achieve normalization in the lifestyle of our residents." "The team approach is emphasized em-phasized as we utilize all members of our staff to meet the needs of these special .people," Mr. Sagers said. He noted that staff members mem-bers are pleased with the results re-sults of .the- new program for the deaf-blind, which was recently implemented. . The progress of participating youngsters is "inspiring," he said. Many other areas of training train-ing are also being expanded at the school as their value has been proved. These include in-clude sensory motor programs which began as a pilot program pro-gram last January |
